2022 EM (NA) 7: Cultural Revival of Our Island   

Proposed by Comhaltas na Mac Léinn OÉ Gaillimh    

Congress notes with concern 

The continued degradation of culture in our Island’s towns and cities. This was highlighted by the announcement of the closure of Galway’s last remaining nightclub on the 11th of March.   

Congress further notes 

The wider negative implications on the student experience caused by the recent announcement of the closure of numerous cultural venues across the island of Ireland, including libraries, museums, bars, nightclubs and restaurants. In the Border Midlands and Western region DNA Galway, Mischief Maynooth, Golden Grill Letterkenny have closed or are due to close.   

In the Southern region spaces such as Club C, Live at the Marquee, Sextant bar, Camden Place, and Kino bar in Cork have closed or are due to close. The Abbey Inn, Horan’s nightclub and Fabric nightclub in Tralee have closed or are due to close. Shortts, Grady’s Yard, the Dome Bar in Waterford have closed or are due to close. The sale of the Dun Mháire Theatre and the closure of multiple locally owned bookshops in Wexford. In the North, cultural spaces in towns and cities are continually under threat from government cuts, with the cultural scene becoming increasingly centralised in Belfast resulting in reduced support for other cities including Derry. This has a wider impact on transport infrastructure across the North. In the Dublin region, spaces such as Trinitiy’s Science Gallery, the Smithfield vintage stores, Hanger Jam Park, District 8, Tivoli theatre, and more recently Richmond studios have closed or are due to close. This is not an exhaustive list and many other cultural resources have closed or are due to close all across the Island of Ireland.   

Congress therefore mandates   

The Vice President for Campaigns and the Regional Vice Presidents to;   

• Support the development of cultural resources throughout the island of Ireland.   
• Lobby for funding to support our cultural resources.   
• Campaign against the further closures of our cultural resources.   
• Work with trade unions working in the creative industry such as PRAXIS.   

Congress Further Mandates   

The Coiste Gnó to adopt an official stance supporting the #StopKillingDublin campaign, supporting the #SaveCathedralQuarter campaign in Belfast, continue to work with #giveusthenight campaign and work with external organisations and other campaigns supporting cultural revival across the island of Ireland.  

2022 NA 2: Parental Leave Implementation Review  

Proposed by the USI Vice President for Postgraduate Affairs  

Comhdháil Notes  

Many external PhD funding bodies allocate paid parental leave for their postgraduate  researchers. However, issues may exist where the tax-exempt status of PhD researchers means allocated funding cannot be provided through Higher Education Institutions. This is due to the fact that Universities Higher Education Institutions are not legally allowed to pay a de-registered student under the current framework.  

Comhdháil Further Notes  

Local arrangements can be implemented, but crucially these remedies sidestep the existing  issue. An effective payment release mechanism for postgraduate students on parental leave is urgently needed.  

Comhdháil Therefore Mandates  

VP PGA and the Coiste Gnó to lobby through governmental channels for a review of the  payment allocation scheme for parental leave for postgraduate researchers per institution to ensure that provided funding can be released effectively.  

2022 NA (NC) 1: Conversion Therapy Ban  

Proposed by the USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship   

Comhdháil recognises  

That the practice of conversion therapy is the harmful practice of attempting to erase, suppress or change someone’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Conversion therapy includes medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious, cultural or any other interventions that seek to erase, repress or change the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person.  

Comhdháil notes  

That conversion therapy is currently legal and is widely practiced in both jurisdictions on this island. In 1990, the WHO (World Health Organisation) removed homosexuality from the international classification of diseases. Yet, 31 years later attempts to ‘cure’ people who identify as LGBTQ+ continue across the island and globally.   

Comhdháil further notes  

The immense suffering experienced by, and lives lost within, the LGBT+ community due to this harmful practice. Conversion therapy has lifelong impacts on those who survive and for some who do not survive. The need for victim and survivor support is vital to support and protect the LGBTQ+ community across the island and globally.  

Comdháil acknowledges  

There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to legislate to ban conversion therapy, alongside officials at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth confirming that they have prepared a scoping paper on banning conversion therapy and are currently engaging with the Department of Health to forward proposals on banning conversation therapy. On April 20th, Stormont passed a motion by 59-24, calling on the Minister for Communities to commit to bringing forward legislation to ban conversion therapy in all its forms before the end of the current Assembly mandate. MLAs also voted to reject an amendment from the DUP to remove a section reading “it is fundamentally wrong to view our LGBTQ community as requiring a fix or cure”.  

Comhdháil believes  

That all forms of conversion therapy must be made illegal on an all-island basis and the Governments across the island must take action to ban this harmful practice. In order to support LGBTQ+ people across the island we need to introduce a full legislative ban, along with providing supports for victims and survivors and introduce public awareness, education and training.  

Comhdháil therefore mandates  

The President and the Vice President for Equality and Citizenship to support the NUS USI President in lobbying for the introduction of a full legislative ban to take place within the current Assembly mandate.   

Comhdháil further mandates   

The President and Vice President for Equality and Citizenship lobby and raise awareness of this issue nationally and lobby the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth ban conversation therapy in Ireland within the lifetime of this Government.  

2021 NA NC 1: Support for the Gaeltacht Regions  

Proposed by the USI Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge  

Aithníonn an Chomhdháil:   

An luach a bhaineann leis na ceantair Ghaeltachta agus a thábhachtaí is atá siad do thodhchaí na Gaeilge, agus do stair agus cultúr an oileáin seo.   

Anuas ar sin, Aithníonn an Chomhairle:  

Go bhfuil géarchéim ag tarlúint anois sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ó thaobh cúrsaí teanga de agus gmbíonn fadhbanna ollmhóra ag daoine óga fanacht sa Ghaeltacht mar gheall nach bhfuil deiseanna fostaíochta ann dóibh nuair a chríochnaíonn siad sa Choláiste.   

Creideann an Chomhdháil:  

Go bhfuil sé ríthabhachtach na Gaeltachtaí a chaomhnú agus gur ceart don Rialtas maoiniú sásúil a dhéanamh ar na ceantair seo ionas go mbeidh siad fós anseo i gceann deich nó fiche bliana.  

Go dtacóidh AMLÉ, trí obair an Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge, le feachtas a bhaineann le caomhnú na Gaeltachta agus go gcuideoidh an LU Gaeilge le heagraíochtaí eile, stocaireacht a dhéanamh ar an Rialtas dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim sa Ghaeltacht.  

Anuas air sin, Sanordaíonn an Chomhdháil:  

Go n-eagróidh an Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge grúpaí fócais ar a laghad faoi dhó in aghaidh an tseamastair, le mic léinn ó na ceantair Ghaeltachta ar fad le plé a dhéanamh ar na fadhbanna is mó do dhaoine óga sa Ghaeltacht agus obair AMLÉ ar chaomhnú na Gaeltachta a stiúradh.  

Congress Notes 

The value of Gaeltacht areas and their importance to the future of the Irish language, as well their importance in the history and culture of the Island.  

Congress Also Notes 

That there is a language crisis happening in the Gaeltacht and that there are huge difficulties in keeping young people in Gaeltacht areas due to a lack of employment opportunities for them when they finish college.  

Congress Believes 

That it is vital to preserve Gaeltacht areas and that the Government should provide adequate funding to these areas so that they are still in existence in ten- or twenty-years’ time.  

Therefore Congress Mandates 

USI, through the work of the Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge, to support campaigns to preserve the Gaeltacht and to assist other Irish language organisations in lobbying the Government to tackle the ongoing crisis in the Gaeltacht.  

Congress Also Mandates 

The Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge to organise focus groups for students from all Gaeltacht areas, at least twice a semester, to discuss issues facing young people in the Gaeltacht and to shape USI’s work on supporting the Gaeltacht.  

2022 NA 3: Electoral Reform  

Proposed by the Campaigns Working Group  

Comhdháil Notes that  

Automatic voter registration does not exist in Ireland.  

Comhdháil Further Notes that  

The current system of Seanad voting leaves the majority of students and graduates without a vote, despite many attempts to reform this system.  

Comhdháil Believes that  

Automatic voter registration, and a democratically elected Seanad would increase voter participation among young people and facilitate better political engagement .  

Comhdháil Mandates  

The VP Equality and Citizenship and the VP Campaigns to develop a long running electoral reform campaign to which includes but is not limited to;  

• Votes at 16  
• Automatic voter registration  
• The establishment of an electoral commission  
• A democratically elected Seanad where all citizens have the right to vote  
• The removal of the 11 Seanad seats nominated by An Taoiseach  
• The introduction of the secret ballot for all Seanad voting  

Comhdháil repeals  

2021 NA 2, 2020 NA 3, NA (NC) 19 – 7  

2021 NA NC 3: De-Platforming and Rejecting Fascism   

Proposed by TU Dublin Students’ Union   

Congress notes 

Fascism is a form of authoritarian ideology that focusing on power that uses forcible suppression of opposing views and opinions. It is a regressive and violent ideology that has seen an increase in reporting over the past years and now has now manifested into a full platform in 2020.   

Congress further notes   

Fascism actively harms minority groups, progressive movements, and grassroots community equity campaigns by any means available, using the guise of political stances to protect itself from de-platforming and rejection from societal based values.   

Congress recognizes 

That students come from all walks of life, opinions, and beliefs. Political beliefs and alignments vary in all students and it is important to recognize and support all students in their access, progression, and completion of their education and/or progression to life-long learning.    

Congress believes  

That as a representative body we must ensure the protection of those who are most vulnerable in our society. Fascism actively aims to harm that core belief. We must ensure that access, progression and completion of education and its further progression into life-long learning must be safe from violence, oppression or hinderance, particularly from those with harmful, deceitful, or aggressive intent.   

Congress further believes  

That as a collective Union we should seek to include as many diverse opinions as possible, that does not actively harm, disrupt or de-platform the vulnerable, marginalized or oppressed in our society.   

Therefore, Congress mandates 

The President in conjunction with the Executive Team actively rejects and de-platforms forms of fascism and to further re-invest resources into protecting the most vulnerable and/or marginalized students in our society.   

Congress further mandates  

The Vice-President for Campaigns in conjunction with the Executive Team and Presidents’ Working Group to engage in de-platforming actions such as counter-protests where safe, and to work with Organizations, Member Organizations and the relevant Executive Team officers to ensure training for officers in de-escalation, de-platforming and rejection of fascism is rolled out to all officers during key-training sessions.  

2021 NA NC 2: Support for Dying with Dignity  

Proposed By TU Dublin Students’ Union   

Congress Notes 

The Dying with Dignity Bill, is a bill in favour of introducing Assisted Dying in Ireland, which is a part of End of Life Care, often decisions made by those diagnosed with terminal illness or long term health implications that impact a person’s quality of life.  

Congress Further Notes 

The current bill proposed is currently going through legislation at the time of this motion being written up. The bill aims to legislate for the safe and monitored access to End of Life Care which includes the Right to Die. The current bill includes the provisional necessity for an independent medical practitioner to assess the case and safeguard against abuse, coercion or gaslighting.   

Congress recognizes   

The historic court cases taken by those who have sought a constitutional right to die or furthered this discussion, such as the abhorrent handling of the Cervical Check Cancer Scandal, or those who have sought to overturn legislation such as Marie Fleming, Gail O’Rorke and countless others.    

Congress believes 

That bodily autonomy is a basic human right, and bodily autonomy derives from the absolute sovereign authority to make decisions that is best for one’s self and that End of Life care is included in Bodily Autonomy and autonomy over one’s health, wellness and future.    

Therefore, Congress mandates  

The Vice-President for Equality and Citizenship in conjunction with the Executive Team to lobby in favour of the Right to Die and to actively support the Dying with Dignity Bill.   

Congress further mandates 

The Vice-President for Welfare in conjunction with the Executive Team to work with lobbying groups who have an in-depth knowledge on End of Life Care that encompasses empathy, compassion and understanding.   

2021 NA NC 5: USI to support Irish Nightclubs during COVID-19 crisis  

Proposed by IT Carlow Students’ Union 

Congress Notes That  

Irish nightlife is a struggling industry as it is. Now, due to COIVD-19, a lot of the nightlife industry must adhere to government guidelines and remain closed until a point where it is safe to open to the public. This puts even more pressure on Irish nightclubs to stay in business.   

Congress Further Notes That  

Pubs and restaurants have national representation through the LVA (Licensing Vintners Association) however nightclubs are not included within their remit of representation. ‘Give Us The Night’ is an independent volunteer group of professionals who campaign for positive changes to nightlife in Ireland but are not a formally recognised representative organisation.  

Congress Believes That  

Nightclubs play a huge role, not only the student experience whilst in college, but for many employment opportunities to students. Nightclubs should be recognised as a vital part of the student experience and thus so recognised as such by the USI.  

Congress Mandates  

The Vice President for Campaigns to actively and publicly work with members from ‘Give Us The Night’ whilst recognising the importance of nightclubs to Irish students. The Vice President for campaigns must offer support from the USI to nightclubs during the COVID-19 crisis within reason as per government guidelines ensuring safety to the public is priority.   

Congress Further Mandates  

The Vice President for Campaigns to deliver any relevant updates from ‘Give Us The Night’ and, if so deemed necessary, reach out to MO’s if help and/or support is required by ‘Give Us The Night’ at a campus level.  

2021 NA NC 4 : Support for Gay Mens’ Health Service (GMHS)  

Proposed by TU Dublin Students’ Union  

Congress Notes  

GMHS is Ireland’s only dedicated statutory sexual health and wellbeing service for gay and bisexual men, men who have sex with men and the trans* community. The GMHS remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions along with the PrEP clinic on the GMHS site. Since its establishment 28 years ago, the clinic has provided a range of essential health services including; 

• Providing a full sexual health service  

• A PrEP/PEP service that facilitates access to the national free PrEP/PEP programme and manages the ongoing monitoring of those using PrEP;  
• A Hepatitis A, B and HPV vaccination programme;  
• Counselling  

Congress regrets  

The GMHS was closed in March 2020 and staff were redeployed to COVID-19 test centers with the GMHS remaining closed for over 330 days now. The HSE piloted a programme for at home STI testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and HIV. This pilot programme was launched only in Cork, Kerry and Dublin and after a day of opening the programme it was temporarily halted after thousands of orders were placed for the kits.   

Congress Also Notes  

The reopening of the GMHS clinic is vital, almost 12,000 gay and bisexual men and trans* people availed of testing, treatment, vaccination and prevention services at the clinic last year. Alongside the PrEP programme at the GMHS was one of the busiest services of its kind in the country, with about 1,000 people accessing medication through it last year.   

Congress Recognises  

The important work being undertaken by LGBTQ+ organisations in calling for the reopening of the GMHS clinic and supports the opening letter written by several LGBTQ+ organisations calling for the reopening of the GMHS expressing concerns about the impact on the “sexual health and wellbeing of many in our community”.   

Congress Mandates  

The USI Executive Team to lobby for the reopening of the GMHS clinic and further sexual healthcare facilities that are currently restricted and closed due to COVID-19 as an urgent priority. While also supporting LGBTQ+ groups in their work to reopen the GMHS clinic including groups such as ACT UP Dublin and many more.   

Congress Further Mandates  

The USI Executive Team to lobby the Department of Health to allocate resourcing to increasing access to these types of services beyond Dublin’s GMHS.  

2021 NA 3: Right to disconnect  

Proposed by the USI VP Campaigns  

Congress notes  

The issue of “always on” and “always available” amongst workers particularly during COVID-19 working arrangements and the impact this has on people’s personal lives.   

Congress recognizes  

The work done as part of the “Right to disconnect” campaign   

Congress recognizes  

The work done by Ireland’s Workplace Relations Commission on a consultation on a new code of practice which will give employees the right to disconnect outside normal working hours.   

Congress therefore mandates  

The USI Executive team to campaign for and support the calls for legislation around the Right to disconnect for workers.  

2021 NA 1: Supporting Students in Direct Provision  

Proposed by NCI Students’ Union     

Congress Recognizes   

That students in direct provision are at a greater disadvantage when it comes to educational, financial, and mental health supports. The current asylum-seeking process in Ireland needs to be dramatically modified and better resource the administration of the asylum process in Ireland in order to allow for a quicker asylum reception process. The last official statistics published by the RIA was in November 2018. The average length of stay in Direct Provision is 24 months, with some residents having spent up to 10 or 12 years living in these conditions.     

Congress Notes   

That a report in 2020 by Doras outlined that asylum seekers are five times more likely to develop mental health & psychiatric issues. International Protection applicants experience a disproportionately high rate of mental health difficulties. They are up to fifteen times more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder1 and five times more likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric illness.     

Congress further notes   

USI does not directly represent second-level students as they are not in third-level education but must recognize the inequality faced by these students in direct provision.     

Congress Therefore Mandates   

The Vice President for Welfare to work with the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union and relevant mental health organizations to provide mental health support and resources to students in direct provision.    

Congress further mandates   

The Vice President for Equality and Citizenship to provide information resources to students looking to continue to third-level education. These resources should include institutes with sanctuary programs, mental health support services, and grants available to them.   

2021 NA 5: Sanctions, Fees and Fines  

Proposed By NUI Galway Students’ Union   

Congress notes  

That institutions put sanctions, fines & fees on students for such things as not paying fees on time, for having to repeat exams and breaking their code of conduct.     

Congress Further Notes  

That there are no best practice guidelines in place to deal with the issues such as late fee payment of students. Some institutions charge extra fees and others attempt to encourage students to pay their fees by locking out students of online resources including moodle, blackboard and emails.     

Congress notes with concern  

That this is resulting in students becoming very distressed, as the sanctions put in place are having a direct negative impact on each of the students’ academics.     

Congress further notes with concern  

Students who rely heavily on family support and part-time work cannot afford these kinds of fines and fees that are imposed on them.     

Congress mandates   

USI President to lobby DFHERIS and HEC to ensure greater fairness in these practices and by creating a model that institutions use when it comes to dealing with late-paying of fees, repeat exam costs and breaking rules etc.     

Congress further mandates  

USI President seeks that no monetary fees and fines are used for these issues.    

2021 NA 4: Post Covid-19 Economic Recovery   

Proposed By USI VP Campaigns  

Congress Notes   

The severe impact that COVID-19 restrictions has had on the Irish economy and the large sum of money borrowed by the Irish state in 2020 and 2021 to help cushion it’s respective impact.   

Congress Further Notes   

The history of Irish Government’s responses to economic downturns being one including cuts to public expenditure and increases in taxes on income, as opposed to wealth; as well as the impact these decisions have had on Irish society as a large as being significantly negative.   

Congress recognizes  

The need for fiscal re-adjustment when normal life resumes, and the economy restarts on a long term basis.   

Congress further recognizes  

The need for the attempts to raise public monies should be done equitably and should be focused on progressive forms of taxation.   

Congress mandates  

The USI President and The Vice President for Campaigns to campaign and lobby for a just economic recovery and against economic policies routed in austerity.    

EM 20 – 7: COVID Funding Gaps  

Proposed by NUIG Students’ Union  

Congress understands  

Due to Covid-19, third level institutions and FEs will have lost a considerable amount of money due to the crisis and there will be a drop in funding from external sources.  

Congress notes  

Students services such as counselling, health units, disability services, academic supports as examples along with Students’ Unions’ funding could be under threat from funding cuts to cover the costs that Covid-19 brought and will bring.  

Congress recognises  

USI’s opposition to any cuts to student services or Students’ Unions.  

Congress mandates  

The VP Campaigns and President to investigate the impact of funding cuts on third level institutions and FEs due to Covid-19.  

Congress further mandates  

The VP Campaigns and President to lobby government officials to increase funding and cover any funding gaps due to the virus.  

EM 20 – 4: COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment  

Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union 

Congress notes  

COVID-19 has imposed strict restrictions, resulting in a large number of students being both temporarily and permanently laid off of their part-time employment. This mass lay- off has resulted in the government creating, and most of these students receiving, the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, which is currently valued at €350/week.  

Congress further notes  

The vast majority of Irish students would have taken on many more hours in employment during the summertime to pay rent, living expenses and to save for the coming academic year. The government’s possible plans to either lower or means test this payment means students will be means tested and judged on their suitability for the payment by the average of their working hours from before the pandemic hit, not their increased hours planned for the summertime.  

Congress mandates  

The USI President to immediately lobby the Irish government to take into account the hours students will forgo this summer while reforming the criteria for receiving the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.  

20 NA (NC) 1: Decriminalisation of Sex Work  

Property of the USI Executive Team  

Congress notes  

Sex work refers to escorting, lap dancing, stripping, pole dancing, pornography, webcamming, adult modelling, phone sex, and selling sex (on and off the street).  Currently prostitution (the exchange of sexual services for money) is not illegal, but associated activities (soliciting in a public place, kerb crawling, operating a brothel) are.  

Congress notes with concern  

With the rise in living costs, the potential increase in tuition fees, the inadequacy of the maintenance grant, and various other personal reasons it is highly likely that some students do and will do sex work alongside their studies.  

Congress does not believe  

That anyone should be forced into sex work as a means of supporting themselves and that the current system fails those it affects directly: sex workers.  

Congress applauds  

In August 2015, Amnesty International voted to adopt policy to protect the human rights of sex workers. The resolution recommended that they develop a policy that supports the full decriminalisation of all aspects of consensual sex work. The policy will also call on states to ensure that sex workers enjoy full and equal legal protection from exploitation, trafficking and violence.  

Congress believes  

That there should be far more support for sex workers, both within the industry and for those looking to get out of it. Sex workers should be fully supported when seeking to leave the industry, especially through the opportunities to re-skill or upskill through education.  

Congress believes  

Decriminalisation would ensure that sex workers feel able to report unsafe clients or violence at work without the worry of criminal repercussions, work together for safety, and that those who wish to leave the sex industry are not left with criminal records as a result of their job.  

Congress mandates  

Officer Board to support and campaign for the full decriminalisation of sex work. This is to be done through the support of sex worker organisations who work to improve the lives of sex workers across Ireland.  

EM 20 – 8: Financial Barriers to Education  

Proposed by NUIG Students’ Union  

Congress Notes  

That the majority of students in Higher/Further Education across the State must work, either part-time or seasonally, to fund, in full or in part, their Education and the associated living costs.  

Congress Further Notes  

That a significant proportion of these students rely heavily on the Summer Months, when they can work full-time and not have to worry about being absent from lectures, laboratory classes etc.  

Congress Believes  

That the financial burden, both directly and indirectly associated with accessing education is one of the greatest barriers to education, both nationally and globally.  

Congress Recognises  

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many students will find themselves under unexpected financial pressure, because of loss of employment/earnings, as most students are employed in the service/retail sectors which have been heavily hit.  

Congress Further Recognises  

That many students will have been deemed eligible for the COVID Unemployment Payment, but many students will equally not have been deemed eligible due to a reliance on seasonal Summer work, or indeed due to taking time off to manage the heavy workload placed on students in February and March of the Academic Calendar, for example.  

Congress Also Recognises  

That many students will struggle to return to education in the autumn, due to a greatly reduced amount of money saved, or may be considering deferring the year or leaving education, as a result of same.  

Congress Mandates  

The President, along with the Executive Team, to lobby the Government to introduce an Emergency Financial Support for students, to prevent a potential exodus from education, or the unnecessary falling into personal debt of same.  

Congress Further Mandates  

The Relevant Officers, working alongside the Individual MOs, to lobby individual Higher/Further Educational Institutes to take a more lenient view of students who find themselves in Financial Difficulties, particularly in light of this crisis which we have faced, and continue to face, irrespective of wealth, class or other distinction. The Coronavirus does not discriminate, so why should Education.  

20 NA (NC) 4: Motion on Insurance Reform  

Property of the USI Executive Team  

Congress believes  

Students are massively struggling with the cost of education, from the extortionate fees to the huge costs of accommodation. Transport is another cost we need to reduce for students. Students are commuting by car more because of the high costs of education or lack of availability of public transport but the commutes themselves are almost as expensive as renting in some cases.  

Congress notes  

That after Central Bank abolished releasing the PMIS report in 2015, that there is very little data available on specific stats in relation to insurance – including around young people/students and motor/travel insurance, making it very difficult to create a case to lobby on.  

Congress believes  

According to anecdotal data, that students face a number of barriers when it comes to insurance including cost, getting insured on cars aged 10 years and older.  

Congress believes  

That transparency is important in terms of real reform of this market and in order to lobby on this issue.  

Congress acknowledges  

That there is a broad alliance of groups work on insurance reform called the Insurance Reform Alliance who are highlighting the negative impact of persistently high premiums and calling for real action to tackle the issue. Their aim is to leverage reforms that will quickly reduce liability and motor insurance premiums to affordable levels and keep them that way.  

Congress mandates  

The USI Executive to join the Insurance Reform Alliance.  

Congress also mandates  

The USI Executive to work on reducing the costs of insurance to students, including lobbying relevant bodies and building partnerships with companies to offer discounts.  

20 NA (NC) 5: Motion on Free Public Transport for Students  

Property of the USI Executive Team  

Congress believes  

Students are struggling with the cost of education, from the extortionate fees to the huge costs of accommodation. Transport is another cost we need to reduce for students.  

Students are commuting more because of the high costs but the commutes themselves are almost as expensive as renting in some cases. This is a much more viable option for those who have the option to get a bus as it is better for the environment and does not require parking spaces in the vicinity of the college, which is not offered in some institutions.  

Congress acknowledges  

By 2000, there were 27 free public transport systems in the world. That increased to 60 in 2010, 99 in 2017 and 114 today – the majority in Europe, according to Wojciech Keblowski, an expert on free public transport at the Free University Brussels.  

Congress notes  

Ireland already provides free public transport for citizens aged 66 and older, and for certain categories of welfare recipients.  

Congress mandates  

The USI Executive to lobby for the further reduction and in turn, the abolition of public transport costs for students.  

20 NA (NC) 8: Rent Strikes  

Property of the USI Executive Team  

Congress notes  

Following from the success of Rent Strikes in the UK and emerging Rent Strike groups in Ireland, rent strikes involve the withholding rent, typically from the college in college- owned student accommodation, in a form of protest of the cost of student accommodation with the objective that the college would reduce the rent.  

Congress also notes  

Collective action and rent strikes have proven extremely effective. Victories include a £1.2 million rent cut at UK based colleges UCL and a 35% backdated rent cut at Goldsmiths, UK.  NUS (the UK National Union of Students’) have been supportive of rent strikes in the UK.  

Congress acknowledges  

Focusing on college-owned student accommodation, brings the fight for affordable student accommodation to the campus, creating a college that is more affordable and accessible for future students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend college. Colleges should be working to remove barriers to attending college and the cost of accommodation is a huge barrier currently.  

Congress mandates  

USI to support campaigns involving rent strikes in campus accommodation.  

20 NA (NC) 6: Motorcycle Safety  

Property of the USI Executive Team  

Congress notes  

That the Road Safety Authority do run campaigns in relation to vehicles of all types albeit more influence is placed on some more than others The Road Safety campaigns currently run by USI and MO’s both locally and nationally and the increasing number of students choosing motorcycles as a mode of transport.  

Congress notes with concern  

The rise in motorcycle related collisions and accidents on Irish roads. Based on figures from the RSA (Road Safety Authority) May 2019 the amount of motorcyclist involved in fatal collisions from 2005-2015 was 212 in comparison to cyclists during the same period was 47.  

Congress notes  

The RSA has information available on motorcyclists but unfortunately they don’t provide enough information for other road users on how to look out for motorcyclists. The need for MO’s to highlight the importance of motorcycle safety is of paramount importance.  

Congress therefore mandates  

USI to assist MO’s where possible to roll out motorcycle safety and awareness campaigns geared towards students.  

Congress also mandates  

The VP Welfare to look into collaborating with organisations such as the Road Safety Authority in promoting Road Safety (irrespective of vehicle – that all vehicles are included in their road safety, inclusive of cars, motorcycles, bicycles etc.) inclusive of all with a particular emphasis on students.  

20 NA (NC) 9: Industrial Relations Act 1990  

Property of the USI Executive Team  

Congress highlights  

The great work that the student movement and trade union movement do in tandem with  each others’ campaigns, create campaigns together and to support students as workers.  

Congress notes  

That past campaigns where the USI and trade unions have had their members have worked together have been inhibited by the restrictions of the Industrial Relations Act 1990, particularly around secondary picketing, aside from the additional impacts it has on students as workers and future workers.  

Congress notes  

The 1990 act was introduced to restrict and control trade unions. It is fundamentally flawed and is the worst dilution of workers rights in the history of the state. Since its introduction we have seen precarious employment, short term contracts, bogus self employment, the gig economy, privatisation, low pay and a general race to the bottom in workers rights which in turn has led to a decline in union membership. Decisions on industrial action should be left in the hands of workers and their unions without fear of repercussions.  

Congress notes  

The work done by the Trade Union Left Forum (TULF) in the campaign to work towards the repeal of the Industrial Relations Act 1990.  

Congress mandates  

USI to engage with like minded unions and TULF to support them in the campaign to repeal the 1990 Industrial Relations Act and replace with legislation that allows secondary picketing but also gives union recognition, full collective bargaining rights and the right to union access.  

20 NA (NC) 8: Student Accommodation Position Paper  

Congress approves 

The USI Student Accommodation Position Paper.

NA 19 – 8 Right to Higher Education  

Proposed by the USI President  

RENEWED 2022   

Congress recognises  

That there is no constitutionally recognised right to Higher Education in Ireland.  

Congress welcomes  

The ruling of the Irish High Court, who recognised that in order to be economically and socially prosperous, it was imperative that citizens have access to higher education.  

Congress Believes that  

Ireland, as a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, should pursue improved access to Higher Education.  

Congress mandates  

The USI President to actively work to ensure that reference to that convention is throughout the work of the department and other agencies, and to explore ways and means to ensure  

Congress Further mandates  

The USI President to lobby for the Higher Education Authority Act to reflect in its wording that third level education is a public good that must be accessible.  

20 NA 1: Climate Action Policy  

Proposed by the USI Vice President for the Southern Region  

Congress adopts  

The Climate Action Strategy  

Congress therefore repeals  

2018 UO 20, 2018 UO 19, UO (NC) 19 – 1, UO 19 18, 2018 NA 2, EM 19 (CZN), 5 CZN 19, 2018 CZN 1  

NA (NC) 19 – 6: Ownership of the National Maternity Hospital  

Proposed by: Vice President for Equality and Citizenship
RENEWED 2022  

Congress recognises  

The long history of the Union of Students in Ireland in campaigning for accessible abortion services in Ireland, and the recent victory in repealing the 8th Amendment from Bunreacht na hÉireann.  

Congress notes  

The continued opposition to abortion access by many religiously-based groups throughout Ireland.  

Congress notes with concern  

That abortion access could be extremely limited if plans for the National Maternity Hospital to be governed by a Catholic organisation go ahead.  

Congress mandates  

USI Officer Board to campaign for the National Maternity Hospital to be taken into public ownership, and that the new maternity hospital be governed by a new, secular charter.  

Congress further mandates  

The Vice President for Equality and Citizenship to lobby the Minister for Health on this issue.  

NA (NC) 19 – 2 Separate Church and State  

Proposed by the USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship
RENEWED 2022  

Congress notes  

That people in Ireland have different religious and spiritual beliefs or none and we live in a pluralistic society.    

Congress notes with concern  

The religious nature of Bunreacht na hÉireann and how it can further impact the advancement of positive change in Ireland.    

Congress believes  

That Bunreacht na hÉireann and our laws should be secular and that religious or spiritual faith and practices should have no influence on our legislative processes or laws and that no one religion should have supremacy over others.  

Congress mandates 

USI Officer Board to support campaigns and lobby groups working towards a separation of church and state. This includes but is not limited to supporting the provision of objective relationships and sexuality education in schools.  

14 NA 2: Zero Hour Contracts 

RENEWED 2017 – REAPPROVED 2020  

Congress notes with concern  

The problems of Zero Hour Contracts, seeing them as exploitative, precarious and disproportionately altering the relationship between employers and employees, many of whom are students.  

Congress regrets  

That this has additional problems in relation to families/ single parents, given the difficulties of combining Zero Hour Contracts and childcare.  

Congress mandates  

USI to confirm its opposition to Zero Hour Contracts, and work with the trade union movements and sympathetic political parties to bring about the abolition of ZHC.  

09 NA 4: Elections Campaign  

RENEWED 2012 – REAPPROVED 2015 – REAPPROVED 2018 – REAPPROVED 2021 

Congress applauds  

The current USI policy on increasing the student vote.  

Congress mandates  

The President to immediately begin lobbying all political parties with regard to student issues, specifically funding of third level education.  

Congress further mandates  

Officer Board to prepare information regarding each party’s policies which relate to students so as to inform USI’s members.  

Congress also mandates  

The President and Officer Board to immediately begin a campaign to improve student access to voting – through lobbying for weekend voting, on campus polling stations and re- instating the right to be registered at home and at college.  

12 NA 3: Private Schools  

RENEWED 2015 – REAPPROVED 2018 – REAPPROVED 2021 

Congress recognises  

That we as a student movement we must strive for true equality of opportunity at all levels in the Irish education system. We also recognise that whether or not a child will make it to third-level education is very often determined by the quality of their secondary education.  

Congress further recognises  

That many potential students have not made it to third-level because they come from areas of socio-economic disadvantage, and thus cannot afford private schooling, or because the public schools in their areas are not adequate.   

Congress notes  

The growth of grind schools and private secondary schools in Ireland in the past two decades, and that this growth of the private school sector has led to a divided student body at second-level and beyond, and has also resulted in many good public schools struggling to fill places and stay open.  

Congress further notes  

That students attending private schools have access to an education that is to a large extent publicly-funded, but which is only accessible to those who can pay the private fees which run into the thousands each year. This means that all taxpayers are being asked to subsidise an education system that is only accessible to those children lucky enough to be born into relatively well-off families, and that this private education puts them at a great advantage in attaining higher CAO points and thus places on third-level courses.    

Congress mandates Officer Board  

To campaign for the removing of state funding for private primary and secondary schools, and for any monies saved in this process to be ring fenced and re-invested in the wider, publicly-funded and publicly-accessible education system including primary, secondary and third level education. This should be completed within the next year.